Amazingly, on the signature Umami Burger, each of the many toppings—sauteed shiitake mushrooms, roasted tomato, caramelized onions, and a frico of parmesan cheese—manages to shine through in the final product. Yet the whole combination still honors the beef. It's good beef too, a loosely packed, six-ounce patty of house-ground meat that develops a caramelized griddle-skin on the outside.

You’ll come here when you want something simple—easy, house-ground burgers and some local beers (Anchor, 21st Amendment). As you might have guessed from the name, they’ve managed to work umami—the so-called “fifth taste,” a meaty flavor that chefs have been known to geek out over—to just about everything. Your mushrooms: umami’ed. Your sauces: umami’ed. Your tomatoes... you get the idea.

Also on the menu are an only-in-SF bacon-wrapped scallop burger topped with crisp pork belly, as well as local offerings such as Anchor Steam beer, Humphry Slocombe ice cream sandwiches and the occasional off-the-menu special (this week features cheesy tots).